Have you ever heard the phrase, “try looking at it from their point of view”? I’m sure we all have. Many of us have probably even said it to ourselves on occasion.
It’s hard, dare I say impossible, to see something from a different point of view. Each person has their own unique point of view and no one can ever know exactly what or how anyone else sees something. Most of us try but I’m going to ask:
Is it even worth it?
A couple weeks ago I helped edit a student’s paper in which the thesis was, “if we see things from other people’s point of view we might have a better understanding of the world.”
Not the greatest thesis in that it’s difficult to prove with facts but it certainly got me thinking about myself and I suppose that’s the best thing an essay can do.
Currently, I am a Judger. Myers-Briggs even says so. A judger is someone who takes a “organized” approach to life. And I guess that’s being kind. Judgers and thinkers (of which I am both) are very logical and have a hard time understanding the emotional sensitivity and decision making of the “feelers.”
I say that currently I am a judger and thinker because I want to believe in the happy medium that I am striving for, the effort that I am making to understand others and where they are coming from.
I’m a smart girl and it’s clear that not everyone sees things the same way and it’s kind of neat to think about all the different ways that people feel, see, understand, and express themselves. We all come from different places and backgrounds and we’ve all had entirely different experiences and beliefs that have shaped how we view and understand the world (consciously or not).
Now comes the hard part: being able to realize our differences before judging others responses, words, and actions.
So, is it worth it to try and see things from other people’s perspectives? I think so. At least that way we are accepting that yes, possibly there is a different way to see and interpret something. Therefore admitting that what you are seeing and perceiving may not be the only (and/or the right) way to see it.
It’s not easy to always remember this and, in the end, a think before you speak or judge method should always be in effect.